Thursday 4th October is National Poetry Day and to celebrate this year’s theme of ‘stars’, online store the Welsh Gift Shop will be selling signed copies of books by a host of Welsh authors. Welsh authors including Gillian Clarke, Grahame Davies, Joe Dunthorne, Rhian Edwards, Menna Elfyn, Peter Finch, Philip Gross, Paul Henry, Patrick McGuiness, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch, Owen Sheers and Ifor Thomas have all signed books which will go on sale tomorrow. The initiative, which has already captured media attention and the approval of Wales’ National Poet Gillian Clarke, will place Welsh writers in the spotlight, aiming to introduce Welsh writing to new audiences.Cardiff born founder of the Welsh Gift Shop, Becca Hemmings is the brains behind the initiative. With a background in literature and experience of running the online gift shop for The Jane Austen Centre in Bath, Becca describes her decision to set up the Welsh Gift Shop as a dream come true: ‘I was brought up in Wales (born in Cardiff and moving to Monmouth when I was 8) and am very proud to be Welsh. My mother, originally from West Wales, speaks fluent Welsh and has always been an enthusiastic collector of Welsh antiques and crafts.’Ultimately, Becca hopes the Welsh Gift Shop ‘will preserve, celebrate and support the wonderful traditions and crafts of our country - and make them available worldwide’. This Thursday’s book sale looks set to do just that. Here, in an interview with Emma Schofield, Becca tells Writing Wales why she feels it is important to raise the profile of Welsh writing on National Poetry Day and her plans to make further signed literature from Wales available online.Wales’ National Poet Gillian Clarke has described the initiative as ‘delightful and innovative’, how did the idea to sell the signed books through the Welsh Gift Shop come about?I noticed that lots of the other Welsh gift shops didn’t sell books at all - which is a shame as Welsh literature is something to be celebrated. But then, with sites such as Amazon, prices are competitive and it is difficult. Then it struck me that we could offer something Amazon doesn’t - signed books - at no extra cost! There is something so special about having a signed copy - it makes a perfect present that one can treasure forever.Tell us a bit more about the authors who will be included in the offer... Any personal favourites among the list?I love all the authors on the list - I couldn’t possible choose. Interestingly, there is a weird connection with Paul Henry that we just discovered - his father used to teach my mam music at Aberaeron Comprehensive! Small world!The offer is set to coincide with National Poetry Day, why do you think it’s so important to make Welsh voices available to new audiences?I think it is important as Wales has one of the earliest literary traditions in Europe. It stretches back to the days of Aneirin and Taliesin, and the haunting poem Stafell Cynddylan, which is the oldest recorded literary work by a woman in northern Europe. The new Welsh voices need to be heard today!Finally, do you have any plans for any similar literature related offers in the future or even to expand the current selection of books available on the website?I plan to sell more signed copies of any books relating to Wales, as and when they are available. I have a list of more authors that I am hopefully going to offer in the future.The book shop will contain everything Welsh - from the Mabinogion to Dylan Thomas. If any of your readers have any suggestions of what we should stock, do let me know!Writing Wales will be the first to know of any literature related offers from the Welsh Gift Shop so watch this space!The signed books go on sale on Thursday 4th October via www.welshgiftshop.com.The National Poetry Day website has more information on readings, events and celebrations taking place this year.